City council approves $77 million in 2024 carryovers to continue multi-year projects

The Richland City Council on June 3 approved Ordinance 2025-17, amending the 2025 budget to include carryovers from 2024 and earlier years so multi-year projects and encumbered purchases can continue.

Finance director Brandon Allen told council the ordinance moves previously budgeted items into 2025 so projects already underway can proceed. "The total increase in appropriations into the 2025 budget from carryovers is just over $77,000,000," Allen said, adding that roughly $67 million of that total is tied to capital improvement projects and about $60 million comes from fund balance.

Allen said the carryovers include grant-funded projects, purchases with long lead times and encumbered purchase orders that were ordered before year-end but received afterward. He highlighted several large categories: about $3 million for vehicles and large equipment, roughly $7.5 million in the industrial development fund for railroad and road improvements, about $18.5 million for capital streets projects, roughly $10 million for park construction, and approximately $17 million in water projects.

Council member Van Dyke asked whether carryovers remain within their originating funds; Allen confirmed they do. Van Dyke moved approval of the ordinance. The motion was seconded and passed in a roll-call vote with Mayor Richardson, Mayor Pro Tem Kent and council members Jones, Luxon, Meyer, Witten and Van Dyke recorded as voting aye.

The ordinance authorizes the city to spend previously appropriated funds that were committed in earlier budget cycles; Allen emphasized these are not new appropriations but the completion of previously budgeted work.